Entering the field of Human Resources (HR) is not without its challenges. For those just entering the HR domain, every step is crucial for their first HR role and the career that will follow.
If you have made up your mind to enter the HR field, but have no experience, the task can seem tough. Compared to seasoned professionals already in the industry, your resume might not stand out to recruiters.
That being said, there are steps you can take to stand out among the crowd and highlight what else you can bring to the table. Through this, you can easily prove why your lack of experience will not hold you back from giving your best.
Earn a Degree
Earning a degree in the HR field is certain to boost your chances of landing a job in the field. Within India, certain degrees are specialized for those pursuing an HR career, including:
- BBA in HRM: A Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Human Resource Management (HRM) is a three-year course focusing on various aspects of HR and how it contributes to an organization.
- MBA in HR: A Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Human Resources is a two-year course to be pursued after completing a bachelor’s degree.
Get Certifications
Adding some essential HR skills to your arsenal is never a bad idea. Pursuing specialized certifications will not only boost your eligibility but also serve as proof of your expertise. Some such certifications include:
- Certified Human Resource Professional (CHRP): Issued by the International Institute of Human Resource (IIHR), CHRP focuses on HR practices of the corporate sector.
- Academy To Innovate HR (AIHR): AIHR provides a variety of HR-centered certifications that can help boost your career and create a strong skill set.
- Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Certified Professional: The SHRM-CP Certification is meant for those seeking to specialize in HR. It requires a basic understanding of HR principles and is perfect for anyone whose work might be operational.
- HR Certification Institute: HRCI is yet another platform that offers different levels of certification. No matter your experience, HRCI is sure to help you boost your career.
Build a Network
Once you have decided to enter the field of HR, do not hesitate to reach out to the professionals in the field. From HR forums to LinkedIn connections, there are many ways for you to create a network full of HR professionals. They can provide crucial guidance when it comes to navigating the HR field.
Acquire HR Skills
To build a successful career in HR, you will need to sharpen your soft skills. These skills will help you smoothly navigate employee interactions.
- Communication skills: HR professionals rely heavily on their communication skills to complete tasks. Communication is the key to success, from interacting with potential employees to handling employee grievances.
- Decision-making: As an HR professional, you will be responsible for several decisions regarding the company’s work. From selecting the right candidates to resolving internal issues, each decision needs to be made effectively.
- Empathy: HR is a people-facing job requiring you to address employee issues. To truly understand their problems, you must empathize with them while maintaining objectivity.
- Organizational skills: Any HR job requires handling multiple jobs simultaneously. Your organizational skills can help you effectively perform multiple tasks while maintaining the quality of your work.
- Strategic Thinking: As an HR professional, you will be faced with a variety of problems that require creative solutions. As such, you must be able to analyze any situation properly and create effective strategies to handle them.
Conclusion
Entering the field of HR requires hard work and determination. To succeed in the field and create a lasting impact on others, one must hone one’s soft skills while building an impressive resume. While HR entry roles can often be specialized, they offer plenty of growth opportunities and open multiple career pathways.
